Geranium plant named ‘Cante Coras’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Geranium  plant named ‘Cante Coras’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounded growth habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit with many flower umbels per plant; flower umbels with numerous coral red-colored single flowers; and resistance to leaf oedema.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Pelargonium×hortorum×Pelargonium tongense cultivar Cante Coras.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum×Pelargonium tongense, commercially known as an interspecific Geranium, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Cante Coras’.

The new Geranium is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Gilroy, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new Geranium cultivars with mounded plant habit, good basal branching, large flowers, attractive flower and foliage coloration and resistance to leaf oedema.

The new Geranium originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in October, 1996 of a proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum×Pelargonium tongense selection identified as code number 6271-5, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum×Pelargonium tongense selection identified as code number 6828-5, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Cante Coras was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny from this cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Gilroy, Calif. in March, 1997.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings at Gilroy, Calif., since March, 1997 has shown that the unique features of this new Geranium are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Cante Coras’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Cante Coras’ as a new and distinct Geranium cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounded growth habit.     -   2. Freely basal branching habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit with many flower umbels per plant.     -   5. Flower umbels with numerous coral red-colored single flowers.     -   6. Resistant to leaf oedema.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of the new Geranium differed from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Geranium were more vigorous than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Geranium had darker green-colored leaves         than plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Geranium and the female parent selection         differed in flower color as plants of the female parent         selection had red-colored flowers.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of the new Geranium differed from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Geranium had darker green-colored leaves         than plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Geranium and the male parent selection         differed in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         had red-colored flowers.

The new Geranium can be compared to the cultivar, Balgalsusi, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,474. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of the new Geranium differed from plants of the cultivar Balgalsusi in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Geranium were more densely foliated than         plants of the cultivar Balgalsusi.     -   2. Plants of the new Geranium had shorter peduncles than plants         of the cultivar Balgalsusi.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Geranium were lighter in color         than flowers of plants of the cultivar Balgalsusi.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Cante Coras’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers and leaves of ‘Cante Coras’.

Flower and foliage colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Geranium.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of the cultivar Cante Coras have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Gilroy, Calif., under commercial practice in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse during the late spring with day temperatures about 27 to 29° C., night temperatures about 16 to 18° C. and light levels about 2,000 foot-candles. Plants used for the photographs and description were about five months from planting rooted cuttings. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum×Pelargonium tongense     cultivar Cante Coras. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum×Pelargonium             tongense selection identified as code number 6271-5, not             patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum×Pelargonium             tongense selection identified as code number 6828-5, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 12 to 14 days at 22° C.         -   Time to develop roots.—About 25 to 30 days at 22° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   General appearance.—Upright, outwardly spreading and mounded             growth habit.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous and very freely basal             branching with about eleven lateral branches per plant.             Pinching, that is, removal of terminal apices, is typically             not required.         -   Plant height to top of foliage.—About 17 cm.         -   Plant height to top of flower umbels.—About 30 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 44 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 24 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Internode length: About 3.5 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Color:             144A.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple; after             flowering, opposite. Length: About 7.5 cm. Width: About             8 cm. Shape: Rounded reniform. Apex: Rounded. Base: Cordate.             Margin: Crenate with about seven lobes. Venation: Palmate.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly coarse;             glandular; pubescent. Color: Developing foliage, upper and             lower surfaces: 146A. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface:             147A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 147B. Venation,             upper surface: 146C. Venation, lower surface: 147C. Petiole:             Length: About 9 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and type.—Single rounded flowers arranged             in hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils.             Umbels displayed above the foliage. At full flowering,             usually about 24 open and developing umbels per plant.             Flowers not persistent; umbels persistent. Flowers not             fragrant.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In             the garden, flowering is continuous from spring until fall.             Plants start flowering about eight weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about one week on the plant.         -   Umbels.—Height: About 5 cm. Diameter: About 8 cm. Number of             flowers and flower buds per umbel: About 22. Flower             diameter: About 4 cm. Flower depth (height): About 2.3 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: 45B.         -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: About five petals per flower             in a single whorl. Length: About 2.2 cm. Width, upper two             petals: About 1.3 cm. Width, lower three petals: About             1.5 cm. Shape: Obovate to slightly spatulate. Apex: Rounded.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth; satiny. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Slightly more pink than 45B. When opening, lower             surface: 46C. Fully opened, upper two petals, upper surface:             50A; towards the base, 45C; at the base, 155D; venation,             67A. Fully opened, lower three petals, upper surface: 50A;             at the base, 155D; venation, similar to petal color. Fully             opened, upper two petals, lower surface: 50B; at the base,             155D; venation, 67B. Fully opened, lower three petals, lower             surface: 50B; at the base, 155D; venation, similar to petal             color.         -   Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five per flower in a single             whorl; not imbricate on open flowers. Length: About 1.3 cm.             Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Acuminate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth;             glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144A.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 20 cm. Diameter: About             2.5 mm. Angle: About 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.7 cm.             Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle: About 20 to 45° from vertical.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Anther quantity: About ten             per flower. Anther size: About 1 by 2 mm. Anther shape:             Oval. Anther color: 57B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen             color: 42B. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: One per flower.             Pistil length: About 9 mm. Stigma shape: Five-parted,             star-shaped; reflexed. Stigma color: 53C. Style length:             About 1.5 mm. Style color: 158A. Ovary color: 194C.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development has not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to     Pelargonium has not been observed. -   Oedema resistance: Plants of the new Geranium have been observed to     be resistant to leaf oedema when exposed to conditions conducive to     leaf oedema development. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘Cante Coras’, as herein illustrated and described. 